Positive mental well-being and leisure-time physical activity among young people in Spain: a cross-sectional study

Purpose Leisure-time physical activity is a potentially modifiable behaviour relevant to public mental health, but recent evidence on its association with positive mental well-being among young people in Spain remains limited. This study aims to examine whether frequent leisure-time physical activity was associated with positive mental well-being and related mental health outcomes among young people living in Spain. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted using anonymized public-use data from the 2025 Youth Health and Well-Being Barometer. The analytical sample included 1,502 participants aged 15–29 years. Weighted linear and logistic regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic and contextual factors. Findings Frequent leisure-time physical activity was associated with a modestly higher WHO-5-derived well-being score (β = 3.56; 95% CI 1.24–5.88; p = 0.003), lower odds of high emotional symptom burden (OR = 0.73; 95% CI 0.58–0.92; p = 0.008) and lower odds of self-reported mental health problems (OR = 0.70; 95% CI 0.56–0.88; p = 0.002). Associations with low mental well-being and frequent unwanted loneliness were not statistically significant. Originality/value This study provides recent evidence on positive mental well-being among young people in Spain, considering leisure-time physical activity alongside emotional symptoms, mental health problems and loneliness. The findings support viewing physical activity as a modest behavioural correlate within broader public mental health approaches, without implying causality or clinical benefit.